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1434251

registered interest
date	22/02/2022
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Import Controls: Ports
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2022 to Question 121866, on Animal and Plant Health Agency: Customs, at how many commercial ports construction work is underway to build the necessary infrastructure and facilities to enable the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks to be carried out from 1 July 2022.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	127508
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/03/2022 answer text <p>21 ports are building the necessary infrastructure and facilities to enable the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks to be carried out from 1 July 2022.</p><p> </p><p>For plants and plant products, a total of 47 applications are being/have recently been processed for new inspection facilities. This includes 22 new or extended Border Control Posts (BCPs). The remainder are either ‘inspection centres’ (7) or ‘control points’ (18).</p><p> </p><p>Sea ports: Sevington, Bristol, Dover, Immingham, Heysham, Hull, Killingholme, Liverpool, Purfleet, Thamesport, London Gateway, Tilbury 2, Newhaven, Plymouth, Poole, Portsmouth, Southampton, Harwich, Felixstowe, Tees and Tyne.</p><p> </p><p>Inclusion on this list does not mean that ports will be designated as BCPs.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 07/03/2022 09:31:14 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1433675

registered interest
date	21/02/2022
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Cats: Imports
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Department will introduce equivalent protections to cats as those proposed for dogs in the Kept Animals Bill to provide for a ban on the import of (a) kittens under 6 months, (b) pregnant cats which are more than 42 days pregnant and (c) cats which have been declawed.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	126766
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2022 answer text <p>The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill was introduced in Parliament on 8 June and is progressing through Parliament. The Bill includes powers to introduce new restrictions on pet travel and on the commercial import of pets on welfare grounds, via secondary legislation.</p><p> </p><p>In August 2021, the Government launched an 8-week consultation on our proposed restrictions to the commercial and non-commercial movement of pets into Great Britain. The consultation proposed to maintain the existing requirements for cats. This is because there is currently limited evidence that there is a significant illegal trade in cats or significant numbers of low welfare movements. The number of non-compliant cats seized at the border is much lower than for dogs, for example, in 2020 we seized and detained 17 kittens (under 15 weeks) compared to 543 puppies. We have also not seen the same issues with pregnant cats being imported, with no pregnant cats seized and detained in 2020.</p><p> </p><p>The consultation sought views on whether maintaining the existing requirements in relation to cats was the right approach. We are currently analysing the responses to the consultation and will publish a summary in due course. This will allow us to take on board the views of the public and interested groups in order to shape our future policy.</p><p> </p><p>We will continue to work closely with stakeholders prior to the introduction of the legislation, to ensure that our final measures are well considered and led by the latest evidence.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 01/03/2022 16:52:49 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1421351

registered interest
date	09/02/2022
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Import Controls
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the Animal and Plant Health Agency is prepared to conduct physical checks on sanitary and phytosanitary goods at border control posts from 1 July 2022.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	121866
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/02/2022 answer text <p>Construction work is currently underway at many commercial ports to build the necessary infrastructure and facilities to enable the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks to be carried out. The Government is also working to build further Border Control Post (BCP) capacity across the country. Its Port Infrastructure Fund awarded around £200 million to improve infrastructure at 41 ports, including helping to establish BCPs at key ports around the UK. In addition, the Government is constructing new inland BCPs in Kent, where work is progressing at pace towards the delivery of Sevington and Dover SPS BCPs for operation from 1 July.</p><p> </p><p>Sevington is on course for both completion of works and designation, in readiness to deliver SPS checks from 1 July on plants/plant products, wood/wood products and some live species arriving through the Short Straits.</p><p> </p><p>At Dover, Defra acquired the lease on an existing distribution warehouse at the White Cliffs Business Park, and work is underway to convert this into Dover SPS BCP. Works are on track for the facility to be designated and operational from 1 July 2022 for SPS checks on plants as part of a mixed load with products of animal origin.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 21/02/2022 17:42:45 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1419091

registered interest
date	02/02/2022
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Export Health Certificates
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a veterinary or SPS agreement with the EU in order to (a) reduce the complexity of or (b) eliminate the need for Export Health Certificates on agri-food imports and exports.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	117024
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2022 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Oldham West and Royton on 28 January 2022, PQ UIN <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2022-01-25/111667" target="_blank">111667</a>.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 10/02/2022 17:48:22 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1418652

registered interest
date	01/02/2022
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Food: UK Trade with EU
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to reduce the complexity of documentation pertaining to exporting food with the European Union for small and medium-sized enterprises.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	116005
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2022 answer text <p>The Government is committed to improving export processes for traders, for example through greater digitisation, to help reduce burdens.</p><p> </p><p>Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) controls for exports of plants, seeds and products of animal origin to the EU are set by the EU.</p><p> </p><p>Under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement we hold regular discussions with the EU. This allows us to take a risk-based approach to our respective SPS border controls and provides a basis for cooperation on avoiding unnecessary barriers to trade.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, we seek to facilitate trade to the EU for GB exporters by regularly raising technical issues with certain Member States.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 07/02/2022 11:39:41 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1365388

registered interest
date	02/11/2021
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Hedges and Ditches
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to restore the UK’s hedgerow network.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	68391
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/11/2021 answer text <p>Following our exit from the Common Agricultural Policy, environmentally sustainable farming will be fundamental to our approach to England’s agricultural system. The development of our new environmental land management schemes will recognise the role of hedgerows and fund their creation and management.</p><p> </p><p>For example, a Hedgerow Standard has been included within the initial phase of piloting of the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme. Within this Standard, farmers will be rewarded for carrying out actions including maintaining or creating hedgerow trees on their land. Newly planted hedgerows, for which capital grants will be available, will be immediately available for annual payment under this standard.</p><p> </p><p>Existing Agri-environment schemes, such as Countryside Stewardship, continue to fund hedgerow management, restoration and laying to deliver recognised benefits for wildlife, landscape and the historic environment. Hedgerow management is one of the most popular options within Countryside Stewardship, with several options available for planting, managing and restoring hedgerows.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 08/11/2021 16:18:13 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1311890

registered interest
date	23/04/2021
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Assistance Animals: Travel
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps is he taking to remove the internal border for assistance dog owners between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	186197
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2021 answer text <p>The UK has been formally ‘listed’ as a ‘Part 2’ third country for the purposes of the EU pet travel regulations, which means that new rules apply to pet movements from Great Britain to the EU and also – under the Northern Ireland Protocol – to the non-commercial movements of pets into Northern Ireland. The health and documentary requirements for such pet travel are set out under the EU Pet Travel Regulations; there are no derogations for assistance dogs under these regulations.</p><p> </p><p>We will continue to press the European Commission on securing Part 1 listed status and in regaining recognition of our freedom from the tapeworm <em>Echinococcus multilocularis</em>, as achieving these would alleviate some of these new requirements for pet owners and assistance dog users. We meet all the animal health requirements for this, and we have one of the most rigorous pet checking regimes in Europe to protect our biosecurity.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is engaging with the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to explore means to streamline pet travel between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, recognising the high standards of animal health that we share. Current guidance on pet travel to Northern Ireland is available on DAERA’s NIDirect website. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has also written to the European Vice-President seeking to ensure that an agreement can be made to address the barriers imposed on pet travel between Great Britain, Northern Ireland and Ireland.</p><p> </p><p>We are proactively engaging with the assistance dog community and relevant stakeholders on the impacts on dog movements from Great Britain to the EU and to Northern Ireland. We will continue to work closely with assistance dog organisations to share the latest advice and guidance (in accessible formats) with their members on pet travel requirements.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 28/04/2021 13:25:56 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1309762

registered interest
date	16/04/2021
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Dangerous Dogs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing penalties for dog owners whose dog attacks wildlife.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	182076
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2021 answer text <p>There are already several potential penalties available to deal with dog owners who do not keep their animals under control.</p><p> </p><p>It is an offence under section 3(1) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 to allow a dog to be dangerously out of control. Under section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871 a magistrates' court may make any Order they consider appropriate to require an owner to ensure that their dog is kept under proper control. The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 also includes specific measures to enable the police and local authorities to tackle irresponsible dog ownership.</p><p> </p><p>Defra has also commissioned research in collaboration with Middlesex University to consider the effectiveness of current dog control measures. The report is currently being peer reviewed and will be finalised in light of peer review comments. Our intention is to publish the final report later this year.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 21/04/2021 13:53:51 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1278363

registered interest
date	19/01/2021
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Pesticides: Rivers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the report entitled Potential role of veterinary flea products in widespread pesticide contamination of English rivers, published in the Science of the Total Environment Journal in January 2021, what steps he is taking to prevent toxic insecticides contaminating rivers across England.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	140231
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2021 answer text <p>Defra, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and the Environment Agency (EA) are working closely together to improve our understanding of the risks posed by chemicals in the water environment and to respond appropriately. This includes EA monitoring of rivers for insecticides and other pesticides to enable us to identify and act upon any emerging issues associated with their use and occurrence in the environment.</p><p> </p><p>Parasiticides are used in veterinary medicines for the treatment of fleas and ticks on cats and dogs. It is possible that following their use, some parasiticides may reach the aquatic environment. However, the environmental exposure assessments conducted for such flea products consider the exposure of the aquatic environment to be acceptably low. Recent research has estimated that the contribution of veterinary medicine parasiticides to the levels of these chemicals of concern in UK waterways to be less than 3% of the total. Such products are accompanied by advice, to users, to keep treated animals out of watercourses for 2 to 4 days after treatment and to avoid washing products off into the sewage system. Therefore, existing steps are taken to reduce the exposure of the environment from parasiticides used to treated animals. We urge people to continue to follow the manufacturer's instructions on the safe use and disposal of all veterinary products, including flea treatment products, and their packaging.</p><p> </p><p>Due to concerns and uncertainties raised by previous research and monitoring data, the VMD commissioned research in 2019 to investigate the potential environmental exposure pathways for flea and tick products. This work aims to assess the significance of their use as veterinary medicines on the aquatic environment. This research is due to be completed in March 2023. In addition, parasiticides may also enter the environment from several other sources such as ant/cockroach/fly bait products, products used in greenhouses, and possibly from products used to protect wool, cotton and synthetic materials. The relevance of these exposure routes is yet to be elucidated.</p><p> </p><p>Pending the findings from this commissioned research, and other available evidence, currently the VMD does not intend to change the existing regulatory controls on veterinary medicines, including the use of flea treatments for pets and the existing risk mitigation warnings, which protect animal health, human health and the environment.</p><p> </p><p>Defra will continue to consider the scientific evidence to inform any policy decisions or other interventions.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 25/01/2021 17:04:18 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1276324

registered interest
date	13/01/2021
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Hemp
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing hemp farming in the UK.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	137274
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/01/2021 answer text <p>Defra will be commissioning a project on the potential use of underutilised, underdeveloped or novel crops, including hemp. We are also considering the role of hemp in the Bioeconomy and the opportunities this presents for UK farmers.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The provision to cultivate (under Home Office Licence) low THC Cannabis (industrial hemp) for seed and fibre production does already exist in the UK.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 18/01/2021 16:08:51 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney